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Purpose served?
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How feasible is it to have housing colonies exclusively for the differently abled?
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These are days of inclusive planning and growth. Such being the case, the report that there is a proposal to form separate housing layouts for the differently abled is something which is against the tide and may prove a negative step.
Some of the important principles covering the housing policy of the Government are:
• All citizens must be provided with affordable houses.
• Government agencies such as Housing Boards should reserve a percentage of sites/plots in layouts developed for allotment to those who do not own houses.
• Rural housing schemes are primarily aimed at the poor and marginalised who need a special approach.
• Subsidise the cost of construction.
Housing loans to those below the poverty line to be considered at differential rates of interest. A fixed percentage of houses/flats is to be earmarked for minorities and women.
Most of the above policies are under implementation in various States. The percentage of reserved houses/plots varies from State to State based on the number of reserved categories and growing demand.
In allotting sites/plots/houses, it has been the practice to ensure justice to the disabled applicants.
Isolation?
If a housing colony is developed, say for the blind only, they will lose the help and assistance of normal people for their activities. Further, they will feel isolated from the mainstream of society.
If only small sites of the dimension of 20’x 30’ are made available, as reported, it is not going to be in line with the aspirations of the allottees.
Again, there may be a tendency to sell or lease out the sites/houses received free or at concessional rates, for moving to better environs, defeating the very purpose of providing houses to the weak and disabled.
Restrictions on sale may not really work.
Though the development of housing facilities to the less fortunate will lead one to believe that it is a novel scheme, integration of various categories of our people into the mainstream may be a better thing to do rather than isolate them.
K. Sukumaran, Bangalore
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